Skip to main content

Graduate Level Part-Time Research Assistants

Part-time

Penn State University

University Park, PAPart-timePosted 3mo agoStill listed today

Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.

You apply on the employer's site, with no Olive account needed.

Watch jobs like this.

Don't just apply. Show up ready.

Olive works from this exact posting.

At a glance

Compensation
No compensation found
Location
University Park, PA
Role Type
Research
Schedule
Part-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degree, required

Job overview

Penn State’s John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering seeks motivated graduate students for part-time research assistant roles. Students work under faculty supervision on projects spanning energy production, transition, and sustainability, with research areas including geomechanics, geothermal systems, hydraulic fracturing, carbon sequestration, underground energy storage, and critical minerals. Research may be laboratory-based, computational, or field-based.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Original Research, nice to haveLaboratory Research, nice to haveComputational Research, nice to haveField Research, nice to haveWritten Communication, nice to haveOral Communication, nice to have

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering, Geomechanics, Mechanical Engineering, or Related Field, nice to haveStrong Academic Record, nice to havePrior Research or Industry Experience, nice to haveBackground Check, required

Full job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

  • CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

  • CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

  • If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS The John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State seeks motivated graduate students to join our research programs as Part-Time Graduate Research Assistants. Students will work under the supervision of faculty on cutting-edge projects spanning energy production, transition, and sustainability. Research Areas Students may be engaged in projects related to geomechanics, wellbore integrity, geothermal energy systems, hydraulic fracturing, carbon sequestration, underground energy storage, critical minerals extraction, or the repurposing of fossil energy infrastructure for clean energy applications. Responsibilities

  • Conduct original research and contribute to peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations
  • Assist with laboratory, computational, or field-based research activities
  • Participate in project meetings and support grant reporting and documentation
  • Collaborate with industry partners, national laboratories, and academic collaborators

Qualifications

  • B.S. in petroleum engineering, geomechanics, mechanical engineering, or a related field
  • Strong academic record and motivation for research
  • Effective written and oral communication skills
  • Prior research or industry experience is a plus

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission. Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines

How this job compares

Set against the 681 open Research Assistant jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.

Pay
  • This postingNot listed
  • US median$47–60K/yr84 salary ranges
  • Pennsylvania median$12–16/hr38 hourly ranges
Openings
Olive Jobs lists 78 open Research Assistant jobs in Pennsylvania and 681 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Experience
Research Assistant postings that state a minimum ask for 1 year of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 1 to 2 years (152 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 187 of the 681 open Research Assistant jobs (27%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

Prepare for this role

You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.